Centrifugal paint sprayer



B. L. SOMMER CENTRIFUGAL PAINT SPRAYER Aug. 11, 1953 Filed Oct. 24, 1951 f J W T Y m mm F u 3 a 7 W z b J i W 5 W Iw lW ww P 5 u llllll ll llllIlllllL Patented Aug. 11, 1953 UNITED STATE ENT OFFIE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved sprayer and more particularly to a sprayer of the centrifugal type adapted for spraying paints, lacquers, insecticides and the like.

Sprayers are now being generally used for the distribution or application of liquid materials, and to be of practical use such sprayers must be capable of uniform distribution and must be light enough to be manuipulated manually. Sprayers which operate by compressed air are generally heavy and complicated and require a hose connection to a spray nozzle. With certain types of materials there may be an undesirable oxidation by means of the atomizing air.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved sprayer of the centrifugal type.

It is a further object to provide a sprayer of this type which comprises a single, self-contained power driven unit.

It is also an object to provide a centrifugal sprayer composed of but few and simple parts which may be readily taken apart for cleaning.

It is an additional object to provide a sprayer of this type in which the centrifugal discharge is limited to the desired discharge area and direction.

It is another object to provide a centrifugal sprayer which positively meters the amount of material discharged.

It is a further object to provide a construction which is simple in design and operation and designed for commercial production and use.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

I have shown certain prefered embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, partly in section;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded View showing the three nested elements of the apparatus; and

Figure 4 is an elevation of a modified form of rotating element.

In the drawings, the construction shown comprises the outer fixed element II which is in the form of a tube of open-ended cylinder. The intermediate rotating element I3 is a cylinder open at one end and having a closed bottom I5, this inner rotating member I3 fitting closely within the outer fixed element I I. An inner supply element I1, which is also cylindrical in form and open at both ends, fits closely within the inter- DOW'BI'.

mediate rotating member I5. In the form of construction shown, the upper end of the inner supply element IT is secured to a spider I9 which is held in place inside the upper end of the outer fixed member I I by set screws 2 I.

The bottom I5 of the intermediate rotating member I3 is provided with a central opening through which passes the drive shaft 23, the'shaft being secured to the bottom I5 of member I3 by means of the cross pin 25. The upper end of shaft 23 extends through the inner hub "21 of spider I9, this hub supporting a bearing 29 which engages shaft 23. Shaft 23 is held in place by means of a collar 3| secured to the shaft by set screw 33, this collar 3| resting on the upper face of the hub 21.

A supply tank 35 for the liquid being sprayed is shown as threaded into the upper end of the fixed outer element I I at 31. The supply tank 35 is provided with a supply opening which is closed by the cap 39 which may be screwed in place. The outer fixed element I i has a handle ll secured thereto in a suitable manner, as for example, by welding. A projection 43 from the lower'end of handle 4i provides a hinged support at 45 for a drive motor 41. This drive motor 41 is provided with a detachable coupling 49 'for connecting it to the lower end of the drive shaft 23 so that the motor may drive the shaft. A switch 5I shown on motor 41 by means of which the motor may be put into and out of operation, it being understood that the motor is provided with a usual connecting cord (not shown) having a plug for connection to a source of electric The particular construction of the motor and its control forms no part of the present invention and any suitable construction may be used.

As the elements are shown in Figure 3, the several elements are all turned so as to expose the openings or slots therein, but it will be understood that this showing is diagrammatic and that when assembled they will preferably be located as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The outer fixed element II is provided with a discharge opening I2 located away from the viewer in Figure 1 and therefore indicated in broken lines since it is covered by the rotating element I3 and inner supply element [7. The inner supply element I1 is provided with a supply opening [8 which, in the construction shown, is located on the side adjacent the handle H. The rotating intermediate element I3 is provided with a diagonally extending feed slot I4 so located vertically as to pass within the areas of openings l2 and I8 when element I3 is rotated.

In the form of construction shown, the motor drives the shaft 23 and the rotating element l5 in the counter-clockwise direction, as seen in Figure 2. It will be understood that the liquid to be sprayed is poured in through cap 39 and fills the inner supply element ll. It is retained in that element I! by the bottom [5 of the rotating element 13. The liquid may extend up into the tank 35 or fill that tank when operation is initiated. The intermediate element i3 is rotated rapidly by motor l! and as the feed slot l4 passes opposite the supply opening E8 in the inner supply member l'a' the liquid fills that slot. As the member [3 continues to rotate the slot 14 carries a load of the liquid filling the slot between the members II and I1 until the slot I4 is exposed by the discharge opening 12. At that point the speed of rotation of the rotating element [3 generates centrifugal force such that the liquid contained in slot [4 is thrown outwardly through the discharge opening I2. It will be understood, of course, that this movement of the discharge liquid is not in a radial direction, but in a direction approximately tangential to the arc of movement of the rotating element l3 so that the'liquid is sprayed generally to the left, as seen in Figures 1 and 2. It will also be understood that' in the construction of the apparatus the discharge opening I2 may be varied in its exact location in order to direct the spray as desired.

Figure 4 shows an inner rotating element '55 which is similar to rotating element 13, but which has a feed slot 5'? considerably wider than the feed slot M of rotating element l3; It will be apparent that the capacity of the slot 54 serves to meter the quantity of liquid discharged at each rotation of the rotating member. Consequently, the enlarged slot 51 of Figure 4 will discharge more liquid than the comparatively narrow slot l4 shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive. Interchangeable rotating elements may be provided so that a single device may be selectively equipped with elements giving different discharge capacities. It will be understood also that variations in the size of the feed slot may be desirable with liquids of different viscosities since they will also affect the amount of discharge. The construction, as shown, carries the liquid in the slot [4 or 51 for only approximately of a revolution. This reduces the dispersion of the liquid between the rotating member l3 and inner and outer members I? and II so that with small clearances between these members there is a minimum of frictional loss and of loss of material between the members. I

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown, they are to be understood to be illustrative only as it is capable of variation to meet differing conditions and requirements and I contemplate such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a centrifugal sprayer, an outer fixed element with a discharge opening therein, an intermediate rotating element, said rotating element having a feed slot formed therein, the feed slot being adapted to be aligned with the discharge opening in certain rotary positions of the rotating element, and an inner supply element with a supply opening therein, the supply opening being out of alignment with the discharge element and adapted to be aligned with the feed slot in certain rotary positions of the rotating element.

2. In a centrifugal sprayer, an outer fixed element with a discharge opening therein, an intermediate rotating element, said rotating element having a feed slot formed therein, the feed slot being adapted to be aligned with the discharge opening in certain rotary positions of the rotating element, and an inner supply element with a supply opening therein, the supply opening being out of alignment with the discharge element and adapted to be aligned with the feed slot in certain rotary positions of the rotating element, the outer fixed element, the intermediate rotating element and the inner supply element all being of circular cross section and closely fitted one within the other.

3. In a centrifugal sprayer, an outer fixed element with a discharge opening therein, an intermediate rotating element, said rotating element having a feed slot formed therein, the feed slot being adapted to be aligned with the discharge opening in certain rotary positions of the rotating element, and an inner supply element with a supply opening therein, the supply opening being out of alignment with the discharge element and adapted to be aligned with the feed slot in certain rotary positions of the rotating element, the outer fixed element, the intermediate rotating element and the inner supply element all being of cylindrical form and closely fitted within one another, the inner supply element being secured at its upper edge to the outer fixed element.

BENJAMIN L. SOIWMER.

Name Date Number Onge Dec. 10, 1935 

